The Washington critic., 1887-06-06
LEoNIDAs AND TIE Pass.

How He Tried to Hold IL at Thermo-
pyin Some Years Ago.
Leonidas was prominent editor of
Sparta In the sweet long ago.
His paper, the Palladium. was noted
for Its opposition TO the Interstate
Commerce bill Of that period, and
when the obnoxious measure became a
law Leonidas was as hot as cook
stove.
Like the law which is now distract.
ing the minds Of the people of the
United States and overworking the
Commissioners, this ancient statute
prohibited the issue Of passes.
Just before the law began to do Its
deadly work, Mr.. Xerxes, president of
the Thermopyle Railway Company,
issued circular, Of which the follow
Ing Is q copy:
"lForm COIL 2.i42,O0o.
"THERMorYLE RAILWAY Co.
"oTricso OF Col; W. II. XEnxEs, PHEnpESr,
"DEAR Sra: As you arc aware, the Inter.
state Commerce law, which goes into effect
on the 5th proximo, forbids under severe pen
altfes tho is,uing OF free passes or the honor.
You will, therefore. return to the general
tie annual pass now issued in your name, as
TIE same VIII not DO available for passage
"Rcgret,ing the necessity for issulrg this
circular, beg to remain, yours faithfully,
"WILLIAM HENRY XEHxEs,
president and General Freight and Ticket
Agent"
When Leonidas received this intIma.
tion he was even more wroth than
when the bill passed.
The pass was q young and beautiful
one, with the figures 4S0 In large gilt
letters all over the face, and Leonidas
had not exhibited II moro than three
times TO the admiring gaze of the con
ductoIs Of the line.
Then, again, the fishing season was
about to open, and he intended to take
a run down into Thessaly County every
Saturday after the paper had gone to
press and indulge In the pleasant sport
of lazily drowning worms.
He had several other little excursions
planned for the summer, one of whicl.
was to visit his girl In Ohio.
Leonidas was therefore sorrowfu
when he learned that this nice nee
pass, which was just ready to blossom
forth into career of usefulness, ha!
been cut down In its fresh, young
beauty.
Then he made q brave resolution.
| He resolved not to give 1t up, but die
in Its defense II necessary.
He died, as the sequel will show.
Colonel XerXes was determined to
see the law enforced, and when Leon.
idas neglected to return the pass at
the appointed time XerXes sent pos.
tai card TO inquire the wherefore.
Leonidas replied that Xerxes might
go to Halifax, but Xerxes went not.
| Halifax was not on his line of road.
| He went for Leonidas instead, hay.
ing first called out the militia to assist
in taking the pass from the angry edi.
tor.
The latter levied three hundred Pink.
erton guards, armed with Remington
rifles, to defend the pass.
But II was of no use.
Xerxes captured the precious paste.
board, but not until Leonidas and all
his retainers but one had been sent to
that land where the wicked legislators
cease from troubling and the weary ed.
itor Is at rest.
The man who escaped got back to
Sparta and wrote an account of the
fight for the Palladium, which thus had
scoop on its contemporaries.
This little incident shows us that
there Is nothing alarmingly original
about the Interstate Commerce law,
for passes were called In more than
1000 years ago.-[Texas Siftings.